JFK 50 Mile Recap

Every year just like clock work, it’s one of the first things I grab when I arrive home for Thanksgiving. The Herald Mail and Record Herald newspaper filled with a recap and results of the JFK 50 Mile.

The fuel started burning when I was in high school and heard talk of a 50 mile trek through the mountains near my house. The recap each Thanksgiving only fueled my desire to take on race. Despite injuries and many miles logged during my college career as a runner I made a promise that I would complete the race before I was 25 years old.

Last year I got to tag along as part of Andy Mason’s crew and then had the privilege of attending a Christmas party full of JFK legends.  These experiences made me realize that I needed to make my promise to myself a reality.

In a day when I think most races are too commercialized the JFK to me holds a special place because of it’s rawness. Even though it’s the oldest and largest ultra in the United States it still does not boast a massive prize purse or a large annoying expo. Participants test their limitations over the Appalachian Trail (AT), pound out endless miles on a dirt path, and finish under a banner that is attached two RVs.  Some will finish during the day, but even more will finish as the daylight escapes the sky.

On Saturday, November 20th I had the honor of finishing the 48th edition of the JFK under the banner attached to the two RVs.  I completed the race in 9 hours 41 minutes and 15 seconds which placed me 331st out of 1014 participants (1,136 started) and now goes down as my most meaningful running accomplishment. Maybe not my best placement, but less than one tenth of 1% of the U.S. population has ever completed a 50-mile race. I am happy to be a part of the one tenth of 1%.

During the pre race meeting we were warned of a wooden bridge that might give way.  The Race Director noted that it shouldn’t be taken lightly because if it broke, next year they would be holding a memorial run. Our instructions were simple: single file across it and leave some space.  The pre race meeting set the tone for the race. As we walked to the start in Boonsboro, I accepted the pain that I was about to endure I just prayed that my sprained ankle would handle the beating.

I had the privilege to run the first couple miles with Brian Boyle. Just weeks after another Ironman he ran a 9:50 JFK. Congrats dude! Chatting with Brian and others around me made the first couple miles of climbing a breeze. Nervous energy started to build around me as the AT became closer and closer.

I was amazed at how well I controlled my breathing and heart rate as we climbed into the mountains to hit the AT. I can recall as a kid, our car would motor it’s way to the South Mountain Inn and now I was literally running up it one step at a time.  As we made the turn onto the AT, a group of older men yelled, “be safe out there guys.”

The AT presented the most technical and challenging course I have ever run on. Click here for an elevation map. The elevation gains combined with sections that were pure rocks made running, much less walking difficult and scary at times.  Through the AT journey I was following someone by less than 3-4 feet and could always hear runners behind me breathing down my back.

One of the funnier points in the day came when one of the runners beside me was telling everyone how we were about to climb to a building that looked so far away and so high.  Let’s just say what seemed like 30 minutes later I came face to face with that building. I ate my words when I asked if he was joking.

A highlight came as we ran down off the first mountain to the Gathland aid station.  I could hear people yelling and those horns that were made famous from the World Cup echoing off in the distance. As I came off the path some of the first people I saw were my dad and girlfriend.  My spirits automatically lifted and I was ready to take on the next section of the AT, which I was told was the scariest. The demanding part of the AT was in the final stage of that section as we descended switchbacks with some killer drop offs.

My adrenaline started pumping when a 11 time JFK finisher started to tell me horror stories of the switchbacks down the mountain as we were in the middle of decent. Not cool.

My times varied on the first stage of the course from 8:40s pace to 19 minutes. The two extremes were thanks to many points where I wanted to save my quads on the grueling climbs and decided to walk like the others round me.  The 8:40s came when I was having a blast running the AT. But, I quickly pulled back knowing I had so much climbing and many miles ahead of me.  I came off the AT in one piece and feeling strong despite twisting both ankles and falling once on a lose rock.  Going in many JFKers told me of how mentally exhausting the AT was. I would completely agree with them, but I put it in the back of my mind at the Weverton aid station when I fueled up with my GU chomps and a nice PB&J.

As I turned onto the C&O Canal for a marathon down an endless dirt path I realized if I wasn’t mentally on my game I would fall a part quick. Going in, I knew I wasn’t prepared, but I rather live my life and not be so fully dedicated to running. Yes, I’m dedicated to running, but I don’t let it run my life. The honest truth…I did a couple 20 milers and that was it. I planned on getting up to 25 miles, but it never happened.  So I knew the C&O Canal would put a hurting on me, but I was ready for it. I was very proud of how mentally focused I was on the Canal.  I didn’t press the pace, I kept to the goal of about 10 minute miles and stuck with it.  My strategy worked well of breaking the aid station down as my reward points where I could rest for 2-3 minutes and fuel up.

The pre race sprained ankle and just the mileage load started to become too much with about 15 miles to go. I resorted to a 10 minute run 2 minute walk. I have no clue why 10 minutes, but it sounded like a good number, so I went with it. I was able to hold this very well for about 8 times of 10/2.  Then my legs literally started to shut down around the final aid station on the towpath.  I was brought to a complete stop when I cramped up. Luckily, a fellow runner offered me salt tablets. Just 30 minutes prior to this I decided not to take any of the salt pills I had saved up because I thought it wouldn’t help. I was wrong and these salt pills is probably one of the biggest take aways from this race.

The long journey of the last 8 miles on the rolling road is now a complete blur. I honestly don’t recall much of the last stage. My legs were completely gone and my ankle felt like it was smashed to pieces, but I somehow stayed mentally strong enough to will myself to run when I told my body to go. The few things I do recall: praying, meeting my salt tablet friend again and choking down even more, and something I said I would complete before I was 25 was right in front of me.

As the crowds came into view and hearing the Announcer I finally checked out mentally. I lost it a bit emotionally, but I gained it back to make sure I ran strong to the finish.  At the finish something happened that has never happened…I completely locked up. I literally couldn’t move my legs as I was crossing. Before I knew it an EMT picked me up and laid me on a stretcher. This was very embarrassing and seemed a bit unnecessary. But at that moment as my legs seized, I realized that I gave 100% of my body, physically and mentally to the JFK course.  A thank you to the folks who helped me. I came away with a severely sprained ankle and dehydration issues, but with memories that will last a life time.   That night the dinner I dreamed about literally felt like a dream, because I passed out  as we were eating to wake up to everyone making a fuss over me.  In that moment I realized I was surrounded by the people I love the most and all my 2010 goals were checked off.

A few closing thoughts:

Be Focused. The last 15 miles I suffered a lot physically, but remained very focused. This proves to me that if we can mentally keep it together anything is possible in running and for that matter life.

Salt please. Salt pills are a must in an endurance event. I learned the hard way.

Be Smart. It’s foolish to run on a sprained ankle. Especially 50 miles.

Support. My parents and girlfriend were a huge lift to my spirits. My mom for her cooking skills and my dad and girlfriend for standing in the cold making sure I was ok every few miles.  Having a support system in place means the world.

Friends make anything better. I wish I would have paced the race with one of my friends that ran. I think this would have helped me when I needed a little pick me up on the towpath. My 9:41 might have been a 9:20, but who knows? No second guessing now. Proud to have finished.

Keep an open mind. Upon finishing I knew I would be back again to hopefully train more and drop a PR. As my legs have started to come back to life, I feel like another JFK start might be closer than I originally was thinking. I will leave it at that…

Advertisement